MOUNTAINTOP BUSINESS EXECUTIVE FELLOWSHIP

Drive Growth. Lead with Purpose.
The Mountaintop Business Executive Fellowship is a 12-week program designed for business leaders seeking to scale their companies while promoting economic opportunity in underserved communities. Offered in collaboration with the NYU Stern Initiative on Purpose and Flourishing, the fellowship blends eleven weeks of online executive course work with a one-week intensive at NYU Stern in March 2026. Participants receive a formal certificate of completion from the NYU Stern Initiative on Purpose and Flourishing.
Who should apply:
C-suite leaders and founders of businesses generating $100K–$10M in annual revenue, operating in low-income or under- resourced regions within the U.S. and globally.
What the Fellowship delivers:
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Proven strategies to accelerate business growth.
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Frameworks to build resilient, purpose-driven teams.
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Access to a high-impact peer network and expert faculty.
This program equips you to lead not just a successful business, but one that contributes to the prosperity of your team and community.



Key Benefits
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Executive Credential from NYU Stern: Earn a certificate of completion from the globally recognized NYU Stern School of Business' Initiative on Purpose and Flourishing — a mark of distinction for ambitious business leaders.
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High-Impact Learning: Master strategies for growth through a rigorous curriculum co-designed by NYU Stern and Mountaintop’s expert faculty.
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Designed for Time-Constrained Leaders: Balance your responsibilities with eleven weeks of flexible online learning and a one-week, in-person intensive at NYU Stern in March 2026.
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Team-Based Learning: Bring senior team members into the learning journey to support adoption and drive organizational alignment.
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Dedicated Executive Mentorship: Work directly with experienced mentors to apply new tools and insights within your business context.
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Global Peer Network: Join a cohort of purpose-driven leaders and build relationships that extend well beyond the classroom.
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Growth Plan: Develop a tailored Growth Plan to guide your next phase of business expansion, with structured support throughout.
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Ongoing Post-Program Support: Access continued mentoring and advisory support as you put your Growth Plan into practice.
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Lifelong Community: Become part of the Mountaintop Community — a global network of thousands of entrepreneurs and executives committed to purposeful leadership.
Why Choose the Mountaintop Business Executive Fellowship?
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Deep Experience in Executive Education: Mountaintop has built seven executive programs, supporting leaders in the U.S. and across 17 countries. Its global community spans 20k+ leaders in 179 countries. Esteemed partners include the Harvard Safra Center for Ethics, MacArthur Foundation, and Trinity Church Wall Street.
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World-Leading Faculty and Practitioners: Previous programs have featured faculty from Harvard Business School, Harvard Kennedy School, and speakers such as Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Shirin Ebadi.
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Proven Impact: Mountaintop’s Harvard-based program achieved a perfect Net Promoter Score of 100, with 100% of participants citing a transformative or significant impact on their leadership trajectory.
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Strategic Location and Certification: Earn a certificate of completion from NYU Stern's Initiative on Purpose and Flourishing, and network with leaders in New York City — a global center for innovation and enterprise.
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Exceptional Value: The Fellowship is priced competitively, with 50% scholarships available for eligible applicants from high-need communities.
➤ Curious about our faculty, mentors, and learning approach?
Explore Featured Speakers, Mentors, and the Fellowship Agenda from our 2025 Executive Fellowship at Harvard.
Who Should Apply
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CEOs, founders, or senior executives of established businesses or market-driven social enterprises.
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Annual revenues between $100K–$10M.
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Based in:
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Developed countries: Must operate in high-poverty urban areas or rural/tribal regions.
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Developing countries: Open to businesses headquartered anywhere.
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Program Fee
$6,500
Includes:
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Full tuition.
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Daily breakfast and lunch during the in-person week at NYU Stern (March 2026).
Not included:
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Flights and accommodation (discounted hotel rates available).
Financial assistance:
A limited number of 50% scholarships are available to candidates with demonstrated financial need.

CURRICULUM OVERVIEW
This 12-week hybrid program blends rigorous academic training with applied learning and team-based transformation. Participants will walk away with a tailored Growth Plan to scale their companies and lead with purpose.
The Program Includes:
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11 Week Online Course (Jan 5–Mar 15, 2026). Executives train alongside 3-5 colleagues in an 11-week online course with weekly 90-minute sessions led by world-class experts.
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One Week Course at NYU Stern (March 16–22, 2026). In-person workshops led by NYU faculty and successful business leaders.
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1:1 Coaching. Mentors with expertise in entrepreneurship, finance, consulting, and scaling are on call to meet 1:1 with Fellows throughout the program.
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Leadership Labs. Small peer cohorts with similar business models meet for one hour every two weeks to reflect, problem-solve, and support one another with their business challenges.
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One Day Conference on AI in the Workplace at NYU Stern. Network with world class business leaders and learn from academics as they discuss best practices to integrate artificial intelligence in the workplace.
ONLINE COURSE JANUARY 5TH - MARCH 15TH 2026
The Big Picture
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Meeting Your Cohort
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Values-Based Leadership
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Adaptive Leadership
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Business Models
The Team
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Managing Teams
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Organizational Behavior
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Operations
The Numbers
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Financial Management
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Data Analytics
The Customers and Funders
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Marketing
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Debt, Equity, and Negotiations
COURSE AT NYU STERN MARCH 16TH-22ND, 2026 (NYC CAMPUS)
NYU Faculty 3-Hour Courses
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Professor Suzy Welch: Managing Yourself: Leading with Values and Purpose
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Professor Dustin Liu: Designing Your Life
Other Courses (Faculty TBA)
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Leveraging AI in Growing Businesses
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Mastering Unit Economics for Scale
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Performance Management and Feedback in Fast-Moving Enterprises
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Strategies for Networking, Pitching, and Sales to Land Your Next Big Deal
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Financial Tools for Strategic Investment Decisions
Networking Sessions
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Meet with leaders across the fields of investment banking, consulting, export markets, private equity, software engineering, AI, and corporate management over organized dinners and happy hours.

CONFIRMED FACULTY

ADMISSIONS
Mountaintop and NYU Stern's Initiative on Purpose and Flourishing are looking for business leaders who are ready to lead with courage, scale with clarity, and deepen their impact.

Eligibility
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Be a CEO or other C-Suite executive responsible for managing a team at an established for-profit business or market-driven social enterprise.
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Company with annual revenues of $100K-$10M in most recent fiscal year.
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If company is based in a country defined as an "Advanced Economy" by the IMF: Headquartered in high-poverty rural or tribal communities or high-poverty urban zip codes.
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If company is based in a country defined as an "Emerging and Developing Economy" by the IMF: Headquartered anywhere.
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Committed to 5 hours/week of online course work and class time from January 5th - March 15th, 2026. Committed to bringing 3-5 members of your team to the weekly online classes.
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Committed to attending 7-day course at NYU Stern in New York City March 16th-22nd, 2026.

Values Alignment
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Commitment to growing your company and creating more high-quality jobs in low-income communities.
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Genuine interest in cultivating a purposeful workplace where employees flourish.
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Passion for continuous learning and desire to give back to your community of peer business leaders.
TIMELINE
Applications
July 7 - September 30, 2025
Includes a resume, leadership and company information, short written reflections, and optional scholarship request.
Selection
October 1 - October 31, 2025
Virtual finalist interview with Mountaintop staff.
On-Boarding and Preparation
November 1 - December 31, 2025
Confirming finances and logistics, including visa application support for Fellows traveling from outside the US. Mountaintop requires full tuition payments no later than November 30, 2025.
Online Course
January 5 - March 15, 2026
5 hours/week of course work.
Course at NYU Stern
March 16 - 22, 2026
All-day courses at NYU led by world class faculty and practitioners.
For any questions, please contact us at arnav.sinha@mountaintop.international, or set up a 1:1 call with our staff using this link.